Deccan Chronicle

Being Michelle Obama

THE FORMER FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CHRONICLES HER LIFE’S DEFINING MOMENTS IN HER INSPIRING MEMOIR,

- NAMRATA SRIVASTAVA

When Martin Luther King Jr won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, he was still struggling to establish a society that treated people of colour as equals. Little did the world know that the same year would see the birth of Michelle LaVaughn Robinson, who would grow up to become the first African-American First Lady of the United States of America (FLOTUS).

An inspiratio­n to millions across the globe, the former First Lady recently released her highly anticipate­d memoir, Becoming. The book takes the reader through the roller coaster life of Michelle Obama. Chroniclin­g the experience­s that have shaped her, the memoir documents everything, from her childhood in Chicago, Illinois to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address.

While much has been written about

Barack Obama, his wife’s life has been well-hidden from the limelight. Coming from a black migrant family in Chicago, Michelle grew up in a diverse neighbourh­ood, with a black jazz musician living across the street, a Mexican family next door and white families nearby.

Determined to achieve her dreams, this Chicago girl started her career in law, worked as a city administra­tor and later as a community outreach worker.

You might think that for someone who has lived a high-profile life for eight years, transition­ing back to a normal life would be tough. However, in a recent interview with Oprah Winfrey, Michelle revealed that she loves her new home in Washington, which is just a couple miles away from the White House. She added that after having lived in the White House — amidst all the security guards and SWAT for eight years — a normal life was more than welcomed. Turn to page 5

 ??  ?? Pp. 448, `999 Viking Books Michelle and Barack Obama with their daughters Malia and Sasha
Pp. 448, `999 Viking Books Michelle and Barack Obama with their daughters Malia and Sasha

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